Album: The Next Day (2013)
Bassist: Gail Ann Dorsey
I didn't note all of the staccato notes because most of the song is played with that technique, so take
a good listen.
Tabbed by Leo Chiurco
[Intro]
G|---------------------------------|-----------------9-------9\------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------7-----------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-3---3---3.------3~----------3-/-|-5---5---5-----------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------9-------9-------9\------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------7-------7-----------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-3.------3.------3~------3.--5---|-5---5---------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
[Verse 1] "Look into my eyes he tells her ..."
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-0-------0-------0-------0---0---|-0-------0---0---3---3---5-------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-0-------0-------0-------0---0---|-0---0---0-------3-------5-------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-0-------0-------0-------0---0---|-0-------0-------3-------5-------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-0-------0-------0-------0---0---|-0---0---0-------3-------5-------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------3-------3---|
E|-3-------3-------3-------3---3---|-3---3---3---3-------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------3-------3---|
E|-3-------3-------3-------3---3---|-3---3---3-----------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-0-------0-------0-------0---0---|-0-------0-------3-------5-------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-0-------0-------0-------0---0---|-0-------0---0---3-------5---5---|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
[Pre-verse]
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-0-------0-------0-------x-------|-0---0---0-------3-------5---3---|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-0-------0-------0---0-------0---|-0-------0-------3-------5-------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
[Pre-chorus 1] "Listen to the whores he tells her ..."
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------3-------3---|
E|-3-------3-------3-------3---3---|-3---3---3---3-------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------3-------3---|
E|-3-------3-------3-------3---3---|-3---3---3-----------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-----------------9-------9\------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------0-----------|
E|-3-------3-------3~------3---5---|-----5---5-----------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------9-------9-------9\------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|-0---0-------0-------0-----------|
E|-3-------3-------3-------3---3---|-----------------------------0---|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-3-------3-------3---3---3---3---|-5---5---5---5---5---5---5---5---|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-----9---------------------------|-----12--------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-7-------7-------7-------7---7---|-10------10--10-/10--8---7---5---|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
[Chorus 1] "Here I am ..."
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-0-------0-------0-----------0---|-0-------0-------3~------5~------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-0-------0-------0-------0---0---|-0-------0-------3~------5---3---|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-0-------0-------0-------0---0---|-0-------0-------3~------5\------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-0-------0-------0-------0---0---|-0-------0---0---3~------5~------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------3-------3---|
E|-3-------3-------3-----------3---|-----3---3---3-------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------3-------3---|
E|-3-------3-------3-----------3---|-----3---3-----------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
[Verse 2] "Ignoring the pain ..."
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| (x2)
E|-0-------0-------0-------0---0---|-0-------0---0---3-------5-------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-0-------0-------0-------0---0---|-0-----------0---3-------5-------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------7---|-----7---------------------------|
E|-0-------0-------0-------0-------|-0-------0-------3-------5-------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
[Pre-chorus 2] "First they give you ..."
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------3-------3---|
E|-3-------3-------3-------3---3---|-3---3---3-----------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------3-------3---|
E|-3-------3-------3-------3---3---|-3---3---3-----------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-----------------9-------9\------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------0-----------|
E|-3-------3-------3~------3---5---|-5-------5---5-------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------9-------9-------9-------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|-0---0-------0-------0-----------|
E|-3-------3-------3-------3---3---|-----------------------------0---|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-----7-------7-------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-3-------3-------3-------3---3---|-5-------5-------5---5-------5---|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-----9---------------------------|-----12--------12----12----------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-7-------7-------7-------7---7---|-10------10------10------10\-----|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
[Chorus 2] "Here I am ..."
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-0-------0-------0-------0---0---|-0-----------0---3~------5~------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-0-------0-------0-------0---0---|-0-----------0---3~------5---3---|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-0-------0-------0-------0---0---|-0-------0-------3~------5-------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-0-------0-------0-------0---0---|-0-------0---0---3~------5~------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-0-------0-------0-----------0---|-0-------0---0---3~------5~------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-----9---7-----------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------9---7---5-----------|
A|---------------------------------|-------------------------7---5---|
E|-0-------0-------0-----------0---|-0-------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-0-------0-------0-----------0---|-0-------0-------3~------5-------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-----9---7-----------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------9---7---5-----------|
A|---------------------------------|-------------------------7---5---|
E|-0-------0-------0-----------0---|-0-------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-0-------0-------0-----------0---|-0-------0---0---3~------5-------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|-----------------------------7---|
E|-0-------0-------0-------0---0---|-0-------0-------3~------5-------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-0-------0-------0-------0---0---|-0-------0---0---3~------5-------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-----9---7-----------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------9---7---5-----------|
A|---------------------------------|-------------------------7---5---|
E|-0-------0---0---0-------0---0---|-0-------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
[Outro]
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-0-------0-------0-------0---0---|-0-------0---0---3~------5-------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-----9---7-----------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------9---7---5-----------|
A|---------------------------------|-------------------------7---5---|
E|-0~------0~------0~------0---0---|-0-------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-0-------0-------0-------0---0---|-0-------0---0---3~------5-------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-------------7-------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-7h9-9---7h9---7h9---7---5-------|
A|---------------------------------|-----------------------------7---|
E|-0~------0~------0~------0---0---|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| (x2) and fade
E|-0-------0-------0-------0---0---|-0-------0---0---3~------5-------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
************************************
| ~ Let ring
| / Slide up
| \ Slide down
| . Staccato
| h Hammer-on
************************************
Bass Tabs |
|
Title |
The Next Day |
Artist |
David Bowie |
Tablature Type |
ASCII Tab |
YouTube ID |
7wL9NUZRZ4I |
Interactive Bass Tab Guide
Interactive bass tabs provide a better experience than ASCII tabs. With playback, loop, print features and a responsive display that follows the screen of your device.
Use these buttons to control the digital tab player.
Symbol | Function |
| Move cursor to the first bar |
| Play interactive tabs |
| Pause playback |
| Loop |
| Print the tab |
| Zoom |
Page | Switch between page and horizontal view mode |
How to Read Bass Tab: A Beginner's Guide
1. Understanding the Basics
a. Strings:
Bass tab consists of horizontal lines representing the strings of the bass guitar.
The lowest-pitched string (usually the E string) is at the bottom, and the highest-pitched string
(usually the G string) is at the top.
b. Numbers:
Numbers on the lines indicate which fret to play on a specific string.
For example, if you see "3" on the E string, it means you should press down the third fret on the lowest string.
2. Reading Bass Tab Example
In this tab:
- Play the note on the 1st fret of the E string.
- Play the open E string.
- Play the 3rd fret on the A string.
- Play the 1st fret on the A string.
G|-----------------|
D|-----------------|
A|---------3-------|
E|---1-1---1---3---|
3. Playing Techniques
a. Hammer-ons and Pull-offs:
Hammer-ons are represented by an "h" (e.g., 5h7 means play the 5th fret and hammer onto the 7th fret).
Pull-offs are represented by a "p" (e.g., 7p5 means play the 7th fret and pull off to the 5th fret).
b. Slides:
Slides are often indicated by an "/" or "\\" between two numbers (e.g., 5/7 means slide from the 5th fret to the 7th fret).